Respiration and pulse recorder



1 Mareh4 1 927 s. M. STRONG RESPIRATION AND PULSE RECORDER Filed Jan. l1; v1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l @Chema/1,

-NJmmuVll March 1,1927. f 1,619,005

S.M.STRONG RESPIRATION AND PULSE RECORDER Filed Jan. ll, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l0 0 30 40 60 OSCOIVIIS vof/LSE 1 :lgv'l 77 e7 /f /0 /0 2.0 30 40 d'0 65560111115 RESP//mr/a/l In/vento@ 'Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

SAMUEL M. STRONG, OF GARDENCITY, NEW YORK.

RESPIRATION AND PULSE RECORDER.

Application led January 11, 1922. Serial No. 528,485.4

This invention' relates to a device or instrument for recording the character of the actions of the heart and respiratory organs of a person.

The primary object of the invention is to pi'ovide an instrument which will produce an accurate graphic representation of the rate, rhythm, and force of respiration and pulse of a human being over a short or a. long period of time.

My invention also aims to supply a conipact instrument which requires no other eX- ternal source of power to operate it than that furnished by the expansion of the chest during the natural breathing of the person to whom the instrument is applied.

Other objects and novel features of the invention whereby an instrument of simple construction and certain operation is obtained,.will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention is described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 4of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 2 is a sectional View on the line 2--2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is av sectional view showing the yieldable connection between a spring and drum; g

Figure 4 is ay sectional view showing the diaphragm construction;

Figure 5 is a view showing the apparatus strapped in place onthe body;

Figure 6 is a view of one side of the record strip showing typical markings registering the heart action; and l Figure Z is a view of the other side of the strip showing typical markings registering the respiration. v

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

The numeral 10 designates a substantially.

rectangular casing having a detachable side plate or cover 11 and a removable top plate 12. A top bearingfplate 13 is supported immediately'below the top plate 12 by means such as angles 14 having fastening devices l5 passing through the legs thereof and engaging the top bearing plate and end plates 16 of theecasing. A main bearingf'plate 1s bent so as to provide a liorizont-al portion 18 arrangediin .spaced relation `to the top bearing plate 13 and a vertical portion 19 adapted to be placed against a side plate of the casing 10. The main bearing plate fits snugly within the casing and one end of the horizontal portion 18 abuts against the cover 11 when the latter is in position. bearing plate 20 is located immediately adjacent to the detachable side plate 11 and an intermediate bearing` plate 21 is interposed between the bearing plate 20 and the vertical portion 19 of the main bearing plate. It will be understood that the side and intermediate bearing plates are suitably supported' in the casing as by means of angles 22, 23 and fastening devices attaching said angles to said' bearing plates and the bottom of the casing, respectively. Suitable brackets 24 aro secured to the casing 10 and to these brackets are attached bands 25 that pass around the back of lthe neck preferably adjustable in relation to each other as by means of a' buckle. 25 whereby the instrument may be supported in correct position. The bands 25aL connecting the lower brackets 24a prefH erably include elastic material 25b in their struct-ure so as to hold the case close to the body for receiving the heart impulses.

In addition to the'bands 25,'another lband 2G is provided which passes across the back of the person to whom the instrument is applied and has thin metallic strips 27 attached thereto at oppositey ends. These metallic strips 27 pass through appropriate slots 28 formed in the end walls of the casing and are secured at one end to hollow drums 29 by screws 29. These drums are rotatably mounted on spindles30 which pass through the top bearing plate 13 and are provided with heads 3l seated in recesses formed in the topplate 12. The heads 3l are secured from rotation b suitable screws (not shown) which engage' threaded apertures in the top bearing plate. A spiral spring 32 is located within each drum 29 and the inner end of this spring is secured to spindle 30 while the outer endthereof is fastened to the drum 29. The lower ends of the spindles 30 are reduced so as to form a reduced extension 33 which joins the body of the spindle in a shoulder 34. A flange element 35 is adapted to close the lower end of each drum and is detachably secured to the drum for rotation therewith. This flange element is provided with a hub having a circular recess in which is inserted the reduced extension 33 of the spindle until the shoulder 34 of the latter A side f abnts against the inner side of the hub. The hubs of the flange elements 35 are formed with exterior cylimlrical journals 37, 38 which are rotatably mounted in the horizontal portion 18 of the main bearing plate. The journal 37 is prolonged to form a shaft 39 having a further bearing in an auxiliary bentI bearing plate 40 which is attached to the vertical portions 1t) of the main bearing plate. A bevel gear wheel 41 is mounted on the shaft 39 for rotation therewith.

From the above description it is quite apparent that when the device is in proper adjustment to the body of a person, the springs 32 tend to hold the case. to the body and the strength of these springs is preferably selected so that they allow the chest to expand, without interfering with the breathing` of the person wearing the device. As the chest expands a pull is exerted on the strips Q7 thus revolving the drums 29 and winding up the springs 3Q. At the same time the rotation of the drums impart similar motion to shaft 39. the bevel gear 41 mounted thereon, and also to the spur gears 42 which are cut on flanges secured to the upper ends of the drums. lVhen the person exhales the springs 32 wind the strips 27 on the drums. In order that the drums may rotate uniformly the gears 42 are connected by spur gears 43, 44 which are secured to shafts 45. 46 respectively. These shafts are journaled in upper bearing plate 13 and the horizontal portion 18 of the main bearing plate. One end of the shaft 46 is extended beyond bearing plate 18 and has a pinion 47 secured thereto for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

A shaft 48 is provided with polygonal ends which fit within correspondinglyl shaped holes in the auxiliary bearing plate 40 and the side bearing plate 20, thus restraining the shaft from rotation. On the shaft 48 is rotatably mounted a unit composed of a bevel pinion 49 and a ratchet wheel 50 integral therewith. The bevel pin-- ion 49 meshes with the bevel gear 41 so that rotations imparted to thc latter by the. oscillatory movements of the drums 29 are communicated to the pinion and ratchet unit. A spur gear 51 rotatively mounted on the shaft 48 'adjacent the ratchet wheel 5() has a pawl 52 pivoted thereto which pawl engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel whereby rotations of the pinion 49 in one direction are transmitted to the gear 51. A shaft 5? arranged below the shaft 48 is rotatably mounted in end bearings provided by the vertical portion 19 of the main bearing plate and the side. bearing plate 20. A gear 54 is secured to the shaft. 53 near one end and a gear 55 is fastened to the shaft near the other end thereof. A spring barrel 56, comprising a hub portion and a cylindrical flange, is loosely mounted on shaft 53. A

collar 57 pinned to the shaft adjacent the hub of the spring barrel maintains said barrel from lateral displacement in one direction. A spiral spring 58 within the barrel 5G has one end attached to the shaft 53 and the other end is provided with a cam-shaped lug 58 adapted to engage in a correspondingly shaped recess 58" formed in the cylindrical flange of the spring barrel. This construction permits lthe shaft 53 to turn even after the sprin has been fully wound, as the lug on the end of the spring will slip out of its recess when excessive. stress is exerted on the spring. thus preventingthe. breaking of the spring. The spring barrel has a gear wheel 59 cut thereon or attached thereto, which meshes with a feed roller pinion GO. rl`he shaft 53 thus drives the pinion 60 through the yieldable connection made by the. spring 58 with the spring barrel. The pinion 60 is keyed to a shaft 61 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearing plates and also carries a feed roller 62 keyed thereto.

The pinion 6() meshes with a gear G3 which is attached to the second hand shaft 64 of a clock mechanism having a balance wheel G5 and an escapement 66. The gear 63 according to this arrangement is constrained by the escapem-ent to move at the rate of one ll. P. M. lVhile the ratio of gears 63 and GO is such that the latter moves at the rate of six R. P. M. As the circumference of the feed roller is 1% inches, a movement of 7.5 inches per minute is imparted to the paper or record strip 67 passing over the feed roller. The spring and barrel 58, 5G are so constructed that when fully wound up they will afford sulficient power to feed the paper and run the clock mechanism for three minutes, if the person should stop breathing for that length of time. It will be understood that these dimensions are given merely as example and that any suitable dimensions and ratios may be used without departing from my invention.

The gear wheel 55 drives a gear (i8 which is secured to a shaft (it) rotatably mounted in end bearings provided by the main and intermediate bearing plates lf) and 2l. A spring barrel 7() is loosely mounted on this shaft and a spiral spring 71 is niounted within the barrel with one end secured to shaft (3f) and the outer end provided with a cam lug engaging in a recess formed in the inner surface of the barrel in a manner similar to' that above described in connection with the spring barrel 5G. The spring barrel 7() also has secured to it a gear T2 which meshes with a pinion 78 for driving the reivinding spool 74. This spool is keyed to a shaft which is rotatably mounted in end bearings provided in the bearing plates 2() and Q1. One end of the shaft 75 projects beyond the bearing plate 21 and has fixed thereto the pinion 73 which, as above delllt) llt) scribed, meshes With the gear 72. The spring barrel and spring 7l cooperating therewith are utilized to maintain a turning efl heart.

fort on the rewinding spool 74 through gear 72 and pinion 73, the cani lug of the spring being pulled out of the recess in the barrel before the spring tension becomes great enough to rupture the record strip.

Having described the driving mechanism and the means by which the driving power is obtained from the expansion of the chest, I Will nonT proceed to describe the devices whereby an accurate record is obtained of thel actions of the respiratory organs and A rack 76 is slidably mounted in a guide 77 fastened to the horizontal portion 18 of the main bearing plate. This rack engages pinion 47 so that the oscillations of said pinion are converted into reciprocatory movements of the rack. An arm 78 pivotally -mounted at one end on the horizontal portion 18 of the main bearing plate carries a respiration recording pen 79 at the other end and is pivotally connected at an intermediate point to the rack 76, so that the reciprocating motion of the rack Will im'part like movements to the pen; the radius of the arm 78 being comparatively large so that the pen makes a practically straight line across the record strip. A platen 80 is suitably supported within the easing 10 and the record strip 67 passes over the platen in co.

operative relation to the pen 79. The reciprocations of the rack are produced by the oscillations of the drums 29 as transmitted through gears L12, 44, shaft 46 and pinion 47. The extent of these reciprocations depends upon the degree of the expansion and con traction of the chest and therefore the amplitude of vibration of the respiration recording pen as marked on the recording y strip will indicate the capacity of the lungs and the character of-the lines will indicate any irregularity ,or defect inthe breathing of the person to whom the instrument is applied. i

The transmitter Which receives the heart pulsations consists of a metallic back 81 pivoted at 82, in the arms of a channel bracket S3 secured to an end plate of the instrument casing, so as to adjust itself to the body. Over the fac-e of this metal back is stretched a flexible diaphragm indicated in dotted lines at 84:. The face of the diaphragm is spaced from the back plate which is preferably slightly concave and this space is filled with a liquid. A small tube 85 has athreaded connection With the back plate and communicates at one end with the space between said back plate and diaphargm and at the other end with the interior of a cylinder 86. One yend of this cylinder is covered With a flexible diaphragm 87 carrying a light metallic fitting 88 connected to the central part of the diaphragm. The fitting 88 is provvided with spaced projections adapted to receive between them one end of an arm 89 which is pivotally connected thereto. The arm 80 carries at its other end a recording pen 93. A bracket 90 has spaced bearings 01V for pivotally mounting the intermediate trunnions 92 of the arm 85). A platen 94 is mounted in the casing 10 in suitable. position for supporting the recording strip 07 in writing relation to the pen 93. The tube H5 and cylinder 86, as well as the space within the transmitter are filled with liquid. Impulses of the heart are eon'nnunicatcd to the diaphragm of the transmitter which in turn transmits like impulses to the liquid in the tube 85. This small tube transmits these impulses to the liquid of the cylinder which operates diaphragm 87and moves the arm 89 about its vertical trunnions. The pen 93 is thus given oscillatory motion in multiplied form which is recorded on the strip 67. A small cylinder 95 is formed on the metallic .back 81 and communicates with the liquid contained in the transmitter by means of small holes 96. nally threaded at 97 for engagement with a screw plug 98, so that the latter may be screwed in or out to adjust the volume of liquid Within the apparatus in order to compensate for changes in temperature and return the flexible diaphragm 87 to zero position before a reading is taken.

A paper holder in the form of a spool 99 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 100 supported in bearing plates 20 and 21. The roll of paper or record strip 101 is preferably of such size as to serve for a continuous test of four hours Without the necessity of changing rolls.

The paper is fed over pulley 102, to ivrit* ing platen 94 Where it receives the record of the heart action, to rollers 103, 104 which turn the paper over; passes over platen 80 Where it receives the respiration record; over roller 105 and thence to feed roller 62 to the surface of Which it is held by an idler pulley 106 rotatably mounted on a shaft 107. These rollers, pulleys and spool are driven by the spring barrel 56 and constrained to travel at the desired speed through the escapement 66. The feed roller 62 according to the illustrated embodiment of the invention imparts a surface speed to the record strip of 7.5 inches per minute. The record strip passes fr om the feed roller to the revvinding drum 74 where it is re- Wound by the tension produced by spring barrel 70.

In order that the spools 71 and 99 may be readily replaced the bearing plate 20 is preferably made in vtwo parts, designated 20 and 202. The lower part 202 may be taken out of the casing, upon the removal of side plate 11, independently of the upper part 20, so that the spools 74 and 99 may This cylinder is interl'f lilo lin

be Withdrawn from their shafts and replaced with other spools Without disturbing the bearings of the operating shafts provided in the upper part 20 of the side bearing plate. According to my invention the record strip is moved at a uniform rate irrespective of the power received from the expansion of the chest. A yieldable connection is inserted in the driving mechanism so that no excessive stresses can be placed on the record strip or other parts of thel device. Further more accurate records of the actions of the respiratory organs and heart are obtained on the same record strip, the chart of the respiration being on one side and the graph of the heart action being on the other side of the record strip as shown in Figures 6 and 7. Figures 6 and 7 indicate, by Way of example, typical markings for pulse and respiration. These markings are preferably on opposite sides of the .same strip 67, which may be suitably marked or calibrated, according to the speed with which the strip passes the markers 93 and 7 9. These strips or portions thereof may serve as permanent records of the physical condition of the person examined.

It will be understood that the particular construction describedand shown has been chosen for illustrative purposes merely and that lthe invention as defined by the claims hereunto appended, may be otherwise em- 'bodied and applied, Wit-hout departing from the spirit land scope thereof.

I claim:

l. In an instrument of the class described having a record strip, a spring motor for operating the strip, and means operated by the movement of the chest Aincident to breathing for Winding the spring motor.

9.. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a record strip, and means driven by the movements of the chest incident to breathing for moving .said strip in y one direction, said means including a yieldable connection.

3. In an instrument of the class described, l

the combination of a record strip, a feed roller, means for driving said feed roller including a rotatable shaft, a drum, and a spiral spring having one end thereof secured to said shaft and the other end yieldably engaging said drum, said devices being driven by the movements of the chest incident to breathing for driving said shaft in one direction.

4. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a record strip, means driven by the movements of the chest incident to breathing for moving said strip in one direction, and an escapement for controlling the rate at which said strip is moved by said means.

` 5. In an instrument of the class described,

the combination with a record strip, of a spring, means driven by the movements of the chest incident to breathing for Winding said spring, mechanism driven by said spring for moving said record strip, and devices for controlling the rate at Which said Strip is moved by said mechanism.

6. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a-record strip, means driven by the movements of the chest incident to breathing for moving said strip in one direction, and a reivinding mechanism for said record strip adapted to exert a substantially constant force thereon.

7. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a record strip, a feed roller, means for driving saidfeed roller, a rewinding mechanism operated by the movements of the chest incident to breathing for said record strip, and devices actuated by said means for driving said rewinding mechanism, said devices including a rotatable shaft, a drum, and a spiral spring having one end thereof secured to said shaft and the other end yieldably engaging said drum.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature.

S. M. STRONG. 

